Jacquelyn Lynn - Online Consumer Advice and Commentary

Jacquelyn Lynn is a business writer whose dynamic books and insightful articles have been helping business owners and managers work smarter and more profitably for more than two decades. She is the author of Entrepreneur’s Almanac, Online Shopper’s Survival Guide and co-author of Make Big Profits on eBay, as well as a regular contributor to Entrepreneur magazine. For more information and for the link to her business blog, visit www.jacquelynlynn.com.

Thursday, July 27, 2006

The U.S. House of Representatives is currently considering a bill that would override state credit freeze measures and limit the control consumers have over their credit data. Click here for details about that bill.

Here’s some delicious irony: Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) has been a victim of identity theft. Click here for that story.

This makes the point that identity theft can happen to anybody. Maybe this will motivate Senator Reid to lead the charge on legislation that will really work to protect consumers from this devastating and expensive crime.

Monday, July 24, 2006

A new e-mail phishing scam

Consumers must be getting smarter about not clicking on links in unsolicited e-mails because at least one scammer is changing tactics. Instead of asking you to click on a link and enter personal information, the e-mail tells you there is a problem with your account and asks you to call a telephone number. When you call the number, you are asked by a recording to enter your account number.

A red flag is that the recording does not mention a bank name.

If you get an e-mail that asks you to call a bank or credit card company, DO NOT call the number in the e-mail. Banks and credit card companies do not send e-mails asking you to call them; if they need information from you, they have your number—they’ll call you. But if you feel compelled to verify that nothing is wrong with your account, take a moment to look up the bank’s telephone number in your files (it should be on every statement you receive) and call a number you know is legitimate.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your E-Mail Communications

E-mail has become one of the most common methods of business and personal communication. It’s fast, efficient, convenient—and it can be dangerous. Click here to read my tips for getting the maximum benefit while avoiding the pitfalls of e-mail, whether you’re at work or home.

Saturday, July 08, 2006

Tips to Avoid Being a Phishing Scam Victim

When I was writing my book, Online Shopper’s Survival Guide, one of the most intriguing topics to research was the chapter about staying safe and avoiding scams. The creativity and perseverance of con artists and thieves is absolutely amazing. And I have tremendous respect for the law enforcement agencies that do their best to keep up with the online scammers—but if you’re going to avoid becoming a victim, you need to be proactive.

Click here to read my article on the easiest way to avoid phishing scams.

Monday, July 03, 2006

Protect Your Laptop

A laptop is stolen every 53 seconds and only three percent of stolen computers are ever recovered. In 2003, a joint study by the Computer Security Institute and the FBI estimated that the average cost to a company per mobile PC stolen is more than $47,000 per incident reported.

According to ITAC (WorldatWork's Telework Advisory Group), there are some simple steps you can take to protect your laptop whether you’re at home or on the road. Here’s what they advise:

Alarm it. If your laptop is touched by an unauthorized person, the motion alarm will go off, and presumably thieves aren't going to want to carry around a shrieking notebook.

Disguise it. Carry laptops in a case not specifically designed for laptop use.

Lock it or lose it. Use a cable lock to anchor your laptop the same way you would a bicycle. The idea here is you chain it to your desk so that if burglars break into your home, they can't just walk away with your laptop. This could also work in a hotel setting.

Hide it. Do not leave your computer in plain sight in your vehicle or in your home, locked or not. Cover the computer or place it in the trunk of your car where it is not easily seen.

Of course, remember to always back up all your data on a regular basis, so that if the worst happens, you can recover your important information.